July 07, 2011
J.D. Harrington/Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-5241/1979
j.d.harrington@nasa.gov/michael.braukus@nasa.gov
Amber Philman
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
amber.n.philman@nasa.gov
Cassie Kloberdanz
Sierra Nevada Space Systems, Sparks, Nev.
720-407-3264
cassie.kloberdanz@sncorp.com
RELEASE: 11-221
NASA SIGNS COMMERCIAL SPACE AGREEMENT WITH SIERRA NEVADA
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is
entering into an agreement with Sierra Nevada Space Systems (SNSS) of
Sparks, Nev., to offer technical capabilities from the center's
uniquely skilled work force.
The umbrella space act agreement is Kennedy's latest step in its
transition from a historically government-only launch complex to a
multi-user spaceport. Sierra Nevada also has space act agreements
with NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston; NASA's Langley Research
Center in Hampton, Va.; NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at
Edwards, Calif.; and NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field,
Calif.
"We're pleased that our partner Sierra Nevada is going to make use of
the deep resources existing at the Kennedy Space Center to enhance
its ongoing work," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. "Sierra
Nevada's agreements with Kennedy and other NASA centers demonstrate
its commitment to using the full resources of NASA as the agency
facilitates commercial cargo and crew capabilities to the
International Space Station."
Kennedy will help Sierra Nevada with the ground operations support of
its lifting body reusable spacecraft called "Dream Chaser," which
resembles a smaller version of the space shuttle orbiter. The
spacecraft would carry as many as seven astronauts to the space
station.
Through the new agreement, Kennedy's work force will use its
experience of processing the shuttle fleet for 30 years to help
Sierra Nevada define and execute Dream Chaser's launch preparations
and post-landing activities.
"The partnership is an effort to bring new commercial space activities
to the center and help transition Kennedy from a government,
program-focused, single user launch complex to a diverse, multi-use
spaceport, enabling both government and commercial space providers,"
said Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana.
In 2010 and 2011, Sierra Nevada was awarded grants as part of the
initiative to stimulate the private sector in developing and
demonstrating human spaceflight capabilities for NASA's Commercial
Crew Program. The goal of the program, which is based at Kennedy, is
to facilitate the development of a U.S. commercial crew space
transportation capability by achieving safe, reliable and
cost-effective access to and from the space station and future low
Earth orbit destinations.
"Our Dream Chaser vehicle was born at NASA, and NASA has continued to
be an important partner in the vehicle's development," said Mark
Sirangelo, head of SNSS. "By adding the Kennedy Space Center, with
its highly experienced technical staff and world-class facilities, to
the Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser Program we blend the best of both the
NASA shuttle heritage alongside the best of industry practices."
NASA also has space act agreements with other commercial partners
under the agency's Commercial Crew Program. Pratt & Whitney
Rocketdyne has agreements with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in
Huntsville, Ala., for development of the J-2X upper-stage engine;
NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi for hardware assurance
testing; and NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, for
propulsion related technology development. Space Exploration
Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) in Hawthorne, Calif., has agreements with
Marshall for engineering development work, and Orbital Sciences Corp.
in Dulles, Va., has agreements with Marshall and Stennis for AJ-26
engine engineering support.
For more information about Kennedy, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy
For information about NASA's commercial transportation programs,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/index.html
-end-